GenZ is resisting overwork, saying “no” upfront to anything unreasonable, requesting leave for a breakup - “feeling lowkey sad" they say. But is this really about Gen Z? Structurally, this is the outcome of how India’s economy has evolved over decades. In the 90s, very few around us had jobs- mostly government employees. By the 2000s, we had a thriving private sector, thanks to Manmohan Singh's LPG reforms, and many people around us were working. Who are Genzs then? First of all its an urban concept, at least in the way it plays out on LinkedIn. They have grown up in urban spaces, they have a stable parental income, and a home to live in - all these yield into a cumulative priviledge that empower them to say 'No' to their managers. And sure, it’s healthy. We millennials couldn’t even imagine doing that. But its an outcome of priviledge, of economic evolution this nation has went through. Its not about some Genz DNA. Remember a Gen Z from a remote village in Jharkhand, landing in Gurgaon or Bangalore for his first job, is slogging as we millenials do, is overworking 9 to 9, is loggin in on saturdays - because for him its about survival, a breakthrough from a perpetual chain of hardships. A lot changes when a nation’s innovation system matures, its economy strengthens, and per-capita income rises. With that comes a new privilege - the space to think about our rights, our health, and even our mental fragility. This post is an outcome of my evening call withAbhijeet Kumar- a Genz himself, who largely disagrees with me on this!
GenZ, it's mostly urban Indians only 6 crores out of 140 crore do scrolling scrolling in India. Be mindful say Urban India GenZ. Urban India GenZ is highly privileged because similar to the west they don't have to see parents divorce or cheating issues firsthand and neither do they were required to build the technology or learn science beyond a point. Most of them don't belong to the lower caste because 80% of urban India's middle class is upper caste Hindu. So, they're shielded from all directions and you expect them as hardworking which is delusional and highly reductive.
Yash Pratapyes, this is very much my argument is right - urban Genz has a different privilege to negotiate at work place than those from rural space, same goes with caste/class line of distinctions
This is a very sensible take. The socio-economic background does structure individual behaviours. I am sure a lot of millennials also break out of the 'slogging' mindset as their incomes /lives gain stability. GenZ is also more informed and has more platforms to discuss workplace issues. So they are perhaps clearer in their expectations from the workplace. I think I had to assess, judge (check vibes), and generally overthink when I started in 2011 - there were no clear answers, or even avenues for well-rounded discussions.
Gen Z is far more overrated on social media than in real life. Platforms amplify a tiny, urban slice of this generation and make it look universal. But the truth is, India’s Gen Z is over 375 million people, and nearly 65% live in rural or semi-urban areas. Their reality is far removed from the “boundary-setting, self-care, saying-no” narrative we keep consuming online. For most of them, it’s not “I need a mental health day,” it’s “I need to keep this job.” Survival eclipses self-expression. I’ve met Gen Z workers in Nashik, Dharwad, and Siliguri working 10–12 hours, earning ₹12k–18k, sending money home, and never posting a single “I refuse toxicity” reel. That’s the silent majority. The confidence we see today is a luxury born out of economic evolution—not generational superiority. And like you said, it’s privilege, not DNA. @ Abhijeet Kumar may disagree, but that’s the fun of these conversations.
YesManish. There is an increasing awareness towards mental health, yet I feel privilege plays a role in who affords to balance his work life in terms of awareness. I see people around me, despite that they r aware that work is killing, yet they are all in for the same- since there is no other alternative!
Yash Pratap
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Anupam Kumar
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Amrita Tripathi
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Platforms amplify a tiny, urban slice of this generation and make it look universal.
But the truth is, India’s Gen Z is over 375 million people, and nearly 65% live in rural or semi-urban areas. Their reality is far removed from the “boundary-setting, self-care, saying-no” narrative we keep consuming online.
For most of them, it’s not “I need a mental health day,” it’s “I need to keep this job.” Survival eclipses self-expression.
I’ve met Gen Z workers in Nashik, Dharwad, and Siliguri working 10–12 hours, earning ₹12k–18k, sending money home, and never posting a single “I refuse toxicity” reel.
That’s the silent majority.
The confidence we see today is a luxury born out of economic evolution—not generational superiority. And like you said, it’s privilege, not DNA.
@ Abhijeet Kumar may disagree, but that’s the fun of these conversations.
Anupam Kumar
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Manish Kumar • 2nd
Anupam Kumar
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